iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap Review

A good heart rate monitor is a fitness game changer. It can serve as a coach and offer objective feedback about changes in your fitness. It also provide a calorie burn estimate for aerobic exercise and can increase your self-awareness. iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap and the associated phone applications can do all this and can also help you keep track of your workout recovery. Recovery is a crucial, yet often underrated aspect of any fitness training program.

I received one iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap to review. The opinions expressed are based entirely on my own experience using this heart rate monitor strap with some supplemental information from the iMaze product information.

Product Description – iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap:

A photo of the iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap box #imaze

The iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap is a heart rate monitor strap that directly connects to your smart phone via Bluetooth 4.0. It works with both Bluetooth and traditional Ant+ devices (watches, foot pods, etc). There are also two apps designed to work with iMaze products including iMaze Fitness and Zenn.

The Zenn app tracks signs of fatigue and stress using Heart Rate Variability. Stress, illness, workout fatigue, infection, emotional distress can all result in temporarily altered heart rate variability (HRV). I have used HRV apps on and off for about a year. I was initially skeptical of these apps, but I’ve consistently seen my HRV score decrease just before catching an illness, during times of stress, or after too many consecutive days of vigorous workouts. I was very interested in the iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap since it includes HRV tracking through the Zenn app.

Features and Benefits of the iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap:

Certified Bluetooth smart (4.0)

Comfortable and easy to use with snap fit enclosure fits a range of rib sizes from about 30″ to 50″ (my guess based on my own testing)

What I Liked About iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap:

I found the iMaze Fitness strap to be soft and comfortable. I actually like the strap better than the original strap that came with my Polar H7. This strap, as far as I know is only available in one size, but that size does include some smaller adjustment options that keep the strap snug against my 32 inch rib cage. Adjusted to the largest size, it seems like it would fit a 50” ribcage. It fits my hips and stretched quite a bit further. (Yes I tested, it is important to know whether the strap might fit you well).

I like the contrasting red detail

I can replace my own batteries–that is common now but with some heart rate monitors you cannot.

I especially like the inclusion of Heart Rate Variability. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the Zenn app as informative as other HRV apps I have used. I hope in time they improve on this as I think it is a fantastic idea.

Both iMaze apps have attractive, easy to understand info-graphics. The strap is also stylish. I like the contrasting red on the inside.

iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap is compatible with numerous popular apps, see complete list on iMaze site to check for your favorite iPhone or Android app.

A screen capture from the iMaze website showing some of the compatable apps

iMaze offers the ability to connect multiple devices and track many data points. I only have the heart rate monitor, but with the addition of other devices one can track power, cadence, speed, and other metrics. Visit the iMaze’s website for details.

What I Feel Needs Improvement:

I hate to say it, but I didn’t love the iMaze Fitness app. At least not in the current form. The graphics are very attractive and easy to read. Unfortunately, the flow of information in the app just was not ideal for me. In many cases, the heart rate data was on the second screen meaning I had to scroll through two screens to check my heart rate during a workout. Since I don’t have the other devices, most of the information on the first screen was blank.

For example, the app allows tracking of several activities. This is great, but it seems to be designed for distance sports only. For the activity “yoga”, the first screen includes Distance, Speed and Calories Burned. (This makes sense for running, but it makes no sense for yoga. And I would still prefer the heart rate to be on the first screen for any activity.) The second screen includes “Heart” “Power” and “Cadence”. Most of those metrics make no sense for the activity yoga. For most activities, the opening screen was Distance, Speed and Calories. If I had my preference, the opening screen would be “Heart rate”, “Calories” and maybe “Power”. I just found it very annoying to scroll through screens during my workout. For that reason, I don’t see myself leaving my favorite HRM app for the iMaze Fitness app. But everyone has their own preference. I do think this might be a great system for a distance athlete who purchases the various associated gadgets.

I liked the other app iMaze Zenn a little more. But I would like to see more training guidance from the Zenn HRV app. The app is beautiful and pleasant to use. You just sit still in a quiet place and relax for one minute. I just wish it would offer training intensity advice. Other HRV apps I use suggest whether to train as usual, have a lighter workout, or take a rest day. Over time the user will learn how to best interpret the information though.

My Experience Using iMaze Fitness Dual HR strap:

I love using gadgets to track my workouts and activity. I have used a heart rate monitor, a Fitbit and a Nike+. I have used a few different heart rate monitors over the years. I have been able to set up and use all my devices up easily. For some reason, I found setting this heart rate monitor and using the app a little more difficult than usual. For the most part, my issues are not deal breakers they are just “quirks”. I anticipate that some of the app elated quirks will improve as iMaze further develops and evolves.

After the minor issues I experienced, it did track my workout heart rate well. The way the information is presented in the iMaze app isn’t to my preference and the strap is not yet compatible with my favorite app. I will keep an eye on other iMaze products. I am especially interested in the power HRM.

Other Products From iMaze:

Power HR strap
From iMaze:

Power HR strap is a heart beat and power meter chest strap that directly connects to your smart phone via Bluetooth 4.0. Combined with the application iMaze Fitness, your device becomes the ultimate GPS heart rate and power output monitor, enabling you to monitor and record your performance in real-time (power output, distance, speed, heart rate, route, time, weather conditions, etc.), while listening to your favorite music and receiving phone calls…

Combining power and heart rate takes the guesswork out of training. Unlike other cardio belts, the Power HR strap significantly reduces the disruptive effects of external conditions and variables such as temperature, stress, wind and fatigue.

Sam isn't really that "sly", but a college roommate thought so since she had Sly and The Family Stone on nearly constant rotation. When not editing Feeling Fit, Sam can be found pretending to be "sly" and "feeling fit"!

Comments

Hi my name is Emily and I just wanted to send you a quick note here. I came to your iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap Review and was impressed with your detailed and honest review. I like the way you list the pros and cons.